Log-buoy.



J. H. JOHNSON.

LOG BUOY. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1914.

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J. H. JOHNSON.

LOG BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1914.

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JOSEPH H. JOHNSON, OF BLISSVILLE, ARKANSAS.

LO G-BUOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. its, 1915.

Application filed September 28,1914. Serial No. 863,808.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Josnrr-r H. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blissville, in the county of Drew and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Log-Buoys, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide means for causing logs of heavy wood to float in water in which they would otherwise sink, and my invention comprises a float or buoy of improved construction which is provided with means for protecting it from injury by shocks caused by contact of the logs which it supports with floating logs or other objects, and which is attached in an improved way to the logs which it sustains to form a raft.

The float is preferably made of sheet metal and is preferably of cylindrical form closed watertight by heads at each end and strengthened at each end by a frame arranged within the heads. Near each end the cylinder is formed with a corrugation providing an internal groove and an external rib which serve two purposes, viZ., as seats for the strengthening frames and as a locking means for the buffer frames attached to the outside of the cylinder. These buffer frames are preferably made of wood and surround the float near each end, being locked to the annular ribs thereon. Over the float and resting on the bufler frames is a plank on which rests cross poles to which the logs to be supported are attached.

My invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a log buoy or float embodying my improvements and shows also how said float is connected with the logs to be floated. Fig. 2 shows a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of a part of the buffer frame.

The float comprises a cylinder A made of sheet metal and formed near each end with an annular corrugation providing an internal groove (1 and an external rib a. In order to strengthen the cylinder I employ at each end a strengthening frame B consisting preferably of a wheel-like structure comprising a hub b, spokes 7) and a rim 6 Any other suitable frame may however be employed. Two such frames are used, one.

near each end of the cylinder, and the rims of these frames are seated in the grooves a, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the cylinders are closed watertight by the heads a a j In order to protect the float from injuries caused by shocks incident to the bumping of the supported logs against other logs or objects I provide the buffer frames C. Two such frames are used, one near each end of the cylinder. They surround the ribs a and are locked thereto. Each frame comprises a body portion of rectangular form made up of wooden strips 0 and corner pieces a shaped as shown to connect with the annular ribs a, being grooved at c to fit said ribs. The strips 0 are also suitably grooved as shown to receive the ribs. One of the strips 0 of each frame is made removable to enable the frame to be applied to the float.

Fig. 1 shows the buifer frames in place and when so applied a firm connection is made between the frames and the float to prevent the buffer from displacement.

Over the float there is a plank D which rests on the top of the buffer frames and is prevented from slipping or being displaced by pegs (Z applied in the manner indicated.

Crcsswise of the float there are poles E which rest on the plank D near each end thereof. Pegs e are applied to the plank on opposite sides of the poles to hold the latter in position. The cross poles extend a considerable distance laterally on opposite sides of the plank in order that the logs X may be attached to them by means of the chains F which are attached to the dogs f driven into the logs. Each float may support several logs on each side, the floating capacity of the float being. of course. calculated and known to support or float a known weight or a known area of logs. In this way heavy logs may be fl ated and carried down stream and a raft of large size may be const ucted by suitably combining a number of floats and logs.

I have called the body A a cylinder but so far as part of my invention is concerned said body may be of other shape.

I claim. as my invention:

1. A lrg buoy. comprising a flcatablc inder closed watert ght, buifer frames surrounding the cylinder near each end and extendirg laterally from the top. bottom and sides of the cylinder, a plank resting cylon the buffer frames, poles resting on the plank and disposed cross-Wise thereof. and means for connecting the poles to the logs to be floated.

2. A leg buoy or float, comprising a cylinder having near each end an annular internal groove and an annular external rib, heads applied Watertight to the opposite ends of the cylinder, strengthening frames Within the cylinder engaging the grooves, and buffer frames surrounding the cylinder near each end and which are interlccked with the annular ribs thereof.

3. A log buoy or float, comprising a cylinder closed at each end watertight, strengthening frames Within the cylinder, bufi'er framessurrounding the cylinder, a plank resting on the buffer frames, poles resting on the plank and disposed crosswise thereof, and means for connecting the poles to the logs to be floated.

In testimony. whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name;

JOSEPH H. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

J. W. MCSHINK, D. D. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 7 

